Nursing home fires back after pregnancy discrimination suit

A Michigan nursing home is pushing for dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a former employee alleging pregnancy discrimination, stating there was nothing “improper” about her firing.

Saijal Shah, a nurse at The Lodge at Maple Creek in Grand Rapids, MI, claims she was fired from the facility because she had nausea from her pregnancy and took breaks. Shah, who is Indian, also claims she was treated unfairly because of her race.

Shah filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which found she was entitled to file a lawsuit.

An attorney for Lutheran Social Services, which operates Maple Creek, is looking to have the lawsuit dismissed, denying that the company fired Shah for “any improper purposes,” MLive reported. The attorney didn't specify why Shah was fired, but said she was suspended from work for sleeping in a break room and leaving work without notifying coworkers.

Shah's suit seeks lost wages and benefits, compensatory damages for mental anguish and distress, punitive damages and for her to get her job back.

A McKnight's request for comment from Lutheran Social Services was not returned by press time.